Preview: Rennes vs. Clermont - prediction, team news, lineups

Rennes will host Clermont in midweek in Ligue 1, and the home side will be looking to collect three points after enduring a tough start to the league campaign, only earning five points so far this season.

Clermont have enjoyed an incredible start to their first Ligue 1 campaign, and they currently sit in sixth position and having only lost once this term.

Match preview

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Rennes have struggled early on in their bid to replicate last season's sixth-place finish, and they sit precariously close to the relegation zone.

They have not lost in European competition this season, but in Ligue 1 they have only won once, and their last three league fixtures have all ended in 2-0 defeats.

On Sunday, they lost away to Marseille with Bamba Dieng and Amine Harit scoring, which means Rennes have not collected any Ligue 1 points since a 1-0 victory over Nantes on August 22.

Worryingly, Les Rennais have found it difficult to find the net, and no other team has scored fewer goals than the paltry three Rennes have managed this campaign, which is a concern for head coach Bruno Genesio.

The hosts can take solace from the fact they have collected four points at home in the league this season, suffering one defeat, and they will aim to add their second home Ligue 1 victory of the season on Wednesday.

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Clermont are making their Ligue 1 debut this season, and the newly-promoted side are loving life in the top tier having earned nine points from their first six matches.

Six of those points came in their first two fixtures, first beating Bordeaux 2-0, and they then followed that up with another 2-0 victory at home to Troyes.

A slight concern for Wednesday's visitors is they are winless in their last four matches, having drawn three of those, although the only loss they have suffered came at the hands of Paris Saint-Germain.

The two sides have only met once in a Coupe de la Ligue encounter back in September 2007, which Rennes won 1-0 after extra time, and Wednesday will be the first competitive meeting between the two at Roazhon Park.

Team News

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Rennes are without Jeremy Doku and Lovro Majer, who have hamstring and hip injuries respectively.

Jeremy Gelin is a long-term absentee and Martin Terrier is still missing through injury for the hosts.

Rennes boss Genesio could bring Kamaldeen Sulemana into the starting lineup after the 19-year-old came on as a substitute in the second half at the weekend against Marseille.

Johan Gastien is suspended for Clermont after he was sent off on Sunday against Brest.

Clermont head coach Pascal Gastien must decide who to bring in to replace the suspended midfielder, with Oriol Busquets looking likely to get the nod.

Forward Mohamed Bayo started at the weekend after returning from injury and the 23-year-old will continue to lead the line on Wednesday.

Rennes possible starting lineup:
Gomis; Traore, Bade, Aguerd, Meling; Bourigeaud, Ugochukwu, Santamaria, Tait; Laborde, Sulemana

Clermont possible starting lineup:
Desmas, Zedadka, Hountondji, Ogier, N'Simba; Busquets, Abdul Samed, Berthomier; Dossou, Rashani, Bayo

We say: Rennes 1-0 Clermont

Rennes will be desperate to win on Wednesday and may have to grind out a result, but they do possess quality, and Clermont are showing signs of slowing down after failing to emerge victorious in their last four games, so we think Rennes will edge this encounter.